Digital Commons Network^™

Social And Contextual Factors Influencing Hypertension Among Latino Men Living In California, Leslie Ivett Ortega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension remains a critical and often silent public health issue that disproportionately affects Latino men in California. This quantitative, retrospective cross-sectional study explored the social and contextual factors influencing hypertension among this vulnerable population. Using the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset, which included a sample size of 2,060 participants, the study examined the relationship between hypertension and key variables including primary care utilization, health insurance, smoking, physical activity, mental health, and marital status, while controlling for age, education, and income. Guided by the health belief model, binary logistic regression analyses found health insurance and primary care utilization significantly …

An Examination Of Psychosocial Factors Related To Male Serial Killers, Rachael Elizabeth Tubbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, studies on serial murderers have not concentrated in depth on analyzing what psychosocial factors are or how they could influence a man to become a serial killer. The focus of this qualitative study was on the psychosocial characteristics of male serial killers that are from, and based in, the United States. Using a case study analysis approach, the life course of serial killers in the FGCU Radford Database was analyzed to identify themes of adverse childhood experiences such as physical, emotional, or psychological abuse; abandonment by parent or guardian; limited or no social bonds; witnessing abuse; and signs of …

Narratives Of Sexual Self-Esteem As A Domain Of Sexual Well-Being In Cisgender Women’S Long-Term Intimate Relationships, Lisa Criswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only within the last few decades has female sexual health become a topic of focus for researchers and practitioners to begin focusing on, leading to a gap in research between female sexual health and male sexual health. This has led to lack of knowledge and understanding on female sexual dysfunction and how interventions can effectively address it. An identified gap in knowledge of female sexual health and self-esteem is the lack of understanding of female narratives. This study was developed with the purpose of filling that gap and addressing domains within sexual health and self-esteem through exploration of the narratives …

Unconventional Binding Of Calmodulin To Chk2 Kinase Inhibits Catalytic Activity, Christopher R Horne, Tingting Wang, Samuel N Young, Toby A Dite, Hunter G Nyvall, Sushant Suresh, Katherine A Davies, Abner Gonzalez Castro, Vineet Vaibhav, Lucy J Mather, Laura F Dagley, Matthew J Belousoff, Gerard Manning, Anthony R Means, John E Burke, Janni Petersen, John W Scott, James M Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calmodulin (CaM) serves an essential role in eukaryotic cells as a Ca2+ sensor. Ca2+ binding leads to conformation changes in CaM that enable engagement of a repertoire of enzymes and the regulation of their catalytic activities. Classically, Ca2+-CaM binds to an inhibitory pseudosubstrate sequence C-terminal to the kinase domain in members of the Ca2+-CaM-dependent protein kinase (CAMK) family and relieves inhibition to promote catalytic activity. Here, we report an unexpected mechanism by which CaM can bind CHK2 kinase to inhibit its kinase activity. Using biochemical, biophysical and structural mass spectrometry, we identify a direct interaction of Ca2+-CaM with the CHK2 …

Hidden Threats In Water: The Global Rise Of Emerging Contaminants, Baljit Singh, Abhijnan Bhat, Gayathree Thenuwara, Kamna Ravi, Azza Silotry Naik, Christine O’Connor, Furong Tian

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The general spread of water safety awareness and enforcement often masks the escalating risks of emerging contaminants (ECs) that evade standard detection and monitoring techniques. Traditional monitoring infrastructures depend heavily on localized laboratory-based testing, which is expensive, time-consuming, and reliant on specialized infrastructure and skilled personnel. While specific types of ECs and detection technologies have been examined in numerous studies, a significant gap remains in compiling and commenting on this information in a concise framework that incorporates global impact and monitoring strategies. We aimed to compile and highlight the impact ECs have on global water safety and how advanced sensor …

Influence And Excess: A Study Of Alcohol’S Governmental, Societal, Biochemical, And Enzymatic Impact In The U.S And Other Countries Around The World, Thomas W. Snider

Senior Honors Theses

The conduct of the thesis is to explore the intricacies of alcohol consumption. The thesis will outline the history of alcohol and the societal pressures and conduct of drinking with relation to the government. After the history of alcohol has been defined, the thesis will move into the chemistry portion, delineating the absorption, digestion, metabolism, and excretion of alcohol. This is the portion of the thesis that will contain the quantitative data and source material as much research has already been conducted regarding these components of alcohol consumption. The condition of the research is that the data will be collected …

Young Adults' Experiences With Text Messaging Intervention For E-Cigarette Cessation In Rural Areas, Redson Biswick Machongo, Vipavee Thongpriwan, Seok Hyun Gwon, Devon Noonan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS, commonly known as e-cigarettes) use has increased rapidly among young adults (YAs, 18-24 years) in rural communities. E-cigarette use is a higher risk factor for both cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Addressing the disturbing rates of e-cigarette use in YAs requires cessation resources to be available and accessible. Regrettably, rural community residents have limited access to cessation resources. The purpose of this study was to explore YAs' perceptions and experiences engaging in text-message intervention to assist with vaping cessation effectively.

Methods: A qualitative investigation with individual interviews was conducted. Participants (n = 8) were from …

Spartan Daily, December 03, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 41

How Does The Intersectionality Of Race, Gender, And Organizational Culture Influence The Utilization And Consequences Of Code-Switching Among Black Men In Executive-Level Positions Within Nonprofit Settings?, Lepra George

Dissertations (1934 -)

Black men in executive roles within U.S. nonprofit organizations lead under racialized and gendered expectations that shape when and how they are perceived as leader-like. This qualitative study examines how these leaders interpret their lived experiences of code-switching, across speech and broader self-presentation, within White-normed nonprofit cultures. Guided by intersectionality and informed by impression-management theory, the study employed an interpretivist, phenomenological design and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six Black male executives. Four themes emerged: (1) Black Male Leaders Consciously Navigate Authentic Identity, balancing cultural self-expression with perceived professionalism; (2) Confronting the Race–Gender Double Bind in …

Dopaminergic Regulation Of Aversive Motivation, Elaine M. Grafelman

Dissertations (1934 -)

We all experience adversity in our lives, and we must be able to effectively respond to these challenges in order to thrive. One way to respond to stressors is to change one’s behavior to cope with the stress. This can include escaping or avoiding the stressor, focusing effort to diminish the effect of the stressor, or other coping strategies such as drug use. In fact, stress is one of the principal triggers of relapse for those in the abstinence phase of a substance use disorder and it exacerbates a variety of other disorders. Therefore, it is critical to understand the …

Integrating Synaptic Transistors With Perovskite Photodetectors For Neuromorphic Applications, Sydney Zhu, Shuoyan Liu, Yiheng Zhang

Electrical and Systems Engineering Undergraduate Student Research

The convergence of neuromorphic electronics and optoelectronic materials offers a pathway toward next-generation artificial vision systems. Synaptic transistors, which emulate the adaptive plasticity of biological synapses, can process information in an energy-efficient and parallel fashion. Perovskite photodetectors, on the other hand, provide tunable band gaps, high responsivity, and facile fabrication, making them excellent candidates for light sensing. Integrating these two device classes enables direct photoresponsive computation, where optical signals are not only detected but also weighted, filtered, and stored in a single element. My research explores the electrical and optical coupling mechanisms in such hybrid devices, examining how ion migration, …

Operationalizing Passive Sensors Into Scalable, Reproducible, Neurobehavioral Digital Markers For Alzheimer's Disease: Lessons Learned Over 10 Years, Ganesh M Babulal, Matthew Blake, Chen Chen, Yiqi Zhu, Subrata Pal, David C Brown

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

From Embodiment To Entanglement: Refiguring Symbiosis In Human–Computer Interaction, Sang-Won Leigh

IASDR Conference Series

Human–machine symbiosis has re-emerged in HCI as a promising framework for designing sustained partnerships between humans and machines. While prior work has focused on individual ability, agency, and experience—namely embodiment-centric factors—this paper argues that symbiosis takes shape within entanglement. Through a series of design experiments and student projects, we illustrate how ecological residuals—such as friction, adaptation, and asymmetry—can serve as productive design materials. Our proposed framework synthesizes existing approaches, extending the scope of symbiosis in HCI from bodily integration toward socio-technical interdependence. By situating design configurations not as fixed endpoints but as sites of relational conditioning, this paper refigures human– …

The X_Heal Toolkit: Navigating Temporal And Dynamic Self-Healing Processes In Living Materials, Verindi Vekemans, Stefano Parisi, Fanzhe Zeng, Jun Wu, Elvin Karana

IASDR Conference Series

Self-healing, a remarkable ability of living organisms, is gaining attention in biodesign as a pathway toward sustainability. Applications range from fungi-based repair in packaging to bacterial healing in soft robotics. The expressive, dynamic, and temporal nature of self-healing offers rich design opportunities but also presents challenges due to emergent behaviours and environmental dependencies. Healing may unfold gradually, leave visible traces, or transform material in unpredictable ways, making it difficult to observe, describe, and communicate through existing design tools. This paper introduces a toolkit, namely the X_Heal Toolkit, that enables designers to analyse and characterise self-healing processes. Grounded in frameworks of …

"The Limbs That I Built": Understanding In Co-Creation Human Augmentation Design And User-Driven Testing, Keren Zhang, Kin Wai Michael Siu, Yijia Jiang, Shiyu Liu, Huiyi Zhang

IASDR Conference Series

Current co-creation design research on human augmentation technologies focuses primarily on restoring functions for individuals with disabilities, overlooking the increasing potential demand for augmentation among ordinary users. To bridge this research gap, this study combined speculative design with user co-creation workshops to examine the practical implications and behavioural impacts of supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) on everyday users. Initial questionnaires and interviews (n=42) revealed considerable user interest, particularly regarding upper limb and back augmentations. Based on these insights, we collaboratively developed two prototypes: the 'Mirror Hand', which enhances grasp capabilities by mirroring finger movements, and the 'Third Akimbo', a robotic arm …

Educating For Longevity: The Role Of Immersive Technologies In Service Learning, Sheng-Hung Lee, Joseph Coughlin, Sofie Hodara, Maria Yang

IASDR Conference Series

As education adapts to the realities of a longevity society, new approaches are needed to engage learners in preparing for their long-term futures, particularly around financial well-being. This preliminary study explores how immersive technologies can enhance educational experiences in longevity planning by combining augmented reality (AR) with tangible artifacts, the Longevity Planning Blocks (LPBs). We designed and prototyped three longevity coaching experiences—using projection AR, tablet AR, and wearable AR—to investigate their effectiveness in communicating abstract longevity planning concepts. Nine Boston-based participants aged 35–45 engaged in a 30-minute coaching session using one of three AR modalities, followed by reflective feedback captured …

Designing Marine Ranch Complexes For More Than Human-Centered Design: A Reflective Multispecies Systems Framework, Liu Xiang, He Renke, Ji Tie, Shao Binbin, Meng Han

IASDR Conference Series

The Marine Ranch Complex (MRC) is a novel approach to marine fisheries development that has gained significant attention from developed coastal nations worldwide. As a major fishing nation, China attaches great importance to the development of MRC. This study proposes an analytical framework for the sustainable development path of MRC, which is conducive to the efficient conversion of marine resources and the coordinated development of marine ecology in marine pastures. To begin with, the evolution process of the marine ranch concept and the development status of our country are summarized, and the definition of MRC is clarified. We introduce (i) …

Ageism, Loneliness, And The Built Environment: Shaping Older Women's Play In Public Housing Estates, Yi Izzy Jian, Tian Cheng, Wei Xuan Chen, Ka Him Mo

IASDR Conference Series

Play in later life is more than leisure—it is an act of autonomy, resistance, and identity negotiation, especially for older women navigating marginal ity in public housing. Yet, conventional urban design and social programming often fail to recognize its significance. This study investigates how play is interpreted and practiced by 39 female older adults, using semi-structured interviews and network analysis. Findings indicate that socially-driven, self-organized activities such as chatting and volunteering form the core of meaningful play, while procedural barriers and spatial limitations hinder participation in more structured, passive forms. Ageism, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with the built environment further restrict …

Beyond The Interface: How Dyad Gender Composition Shapes Ux Across Collaborative Scenarios, Mengcai Zhou, Wenjia Shi, Jingxuan Wang, Kenta Ono

IASDR Conference Series

As collaborative digital tools and shared-screen applications proliferate, it has become essential to examine how group dynamics and physical layout jointly influence user experience. In this work, we explored how the combination of spatial setting and gender composition shapes interaction in a two- player digital game. Eleven dyads (22 participants) — composed of female–female, male–male, and mixed-gender pairs — played a self-developed iPad table-tennis game under two contrasting conditions: seated face-to-face at the same table and playing remotely from separate rooms. Following each match, they completed a 21-item questionnaire adapted from the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) to capture perceived engagement …

Embodied Vibrational Methodologies: Exploring Vibration From A Multispecies Perspective In A Co-Created Summercamp, Svenja Keune, Katka Cerna, Asya Ilgün, Anneke Ter Schure, Roland Mühlethaler, Tincuta Heinzel, Kristine Diekman

IASDR Conference Series

The I.N.S.E.C.T. Summer camps are annual gatherings of interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners exploring more-than-human perspectives through creative, embodied, and ecological practices. They take place in a scout camp in Hvalsø, Denmark. This area belongs to the Skoldjungernes Land („Land of the Turtles “) National Park where the Bidstrup forest meets the Særløse Overdrev grasslands. The 2024 Summercamp focused on vibration as a sensory and communicative modality shared among humans, plants, and insects. Building on our established methodology of Mapping Ecologies, Critical Making, and Being/Becoming, we adapted our approach to the local context by engaging with insect and plant species involved …

Bridging Innovation And Delivery: A Double-Helix Integration Of Design Thinking And Lean Thinking In Taiwan's Regional Revitalization, Chung-Kai Liao, Ding-Hau Huang

IASDR Conference Series

This study addresses the pervasive "innovation-delivery fracture" phenomenon in Taiwan's regional revitalization policy by proposing a Double-Helix Integration Model that non-linearly interweaves Design Thinking (exploration helix) with Lean Thinking (delivery helix). Through thematic analysis of 31 Taiwan-based publications from 2016–2025, the research identifies four core themes: structural fractures at the policy level including ambiguous central-local government roles and insufficient cross- departmental coordination mechanisms; Design Thinking's excellence in demand insight and co- creation stages, offset by deficiencies in scaling and institution aliz ation; Lean Thinking's potential to strengthen delivery capacity through value stream mapping and PDCA cycles; and a double-helix integration …

A Smart Interaction System For Mandibular Rehabilitation Training, Zixuan Yang, Hyejin Lee, Leheng Chen

IASDR Conference Series

Tempor omandibular disorder (TMD) severely impacts patients' quality of life, while traditional rehabilitation treatments are often costly and lack compliance. Therefore, this study proposes an interactive home-based mandibular rehabilitation training system that integrates force sensing and computer vision. This system monitors mandibular motion and applied pressure in real time, providing patients with visual feedback and guidance. Incorporating self-efficacy theory, it designs personalized training plans to enhance compliance and sustainability. The study first established a medical paradigm centered on autonomous coordinated mandibular movement and resistance training and constructed a self-efficacy-oriented interactive experience model. Technically, a flexible pressure-sensing cuff and the MediaPipe …

A Typological Approach To Innovative Agriculture Design: Enhancing Urban-Rural Interaction, Tangxiang Huo, Jia Ren, Yan Yang, Yinuo Lv, Xiang Liu, Tie Ji, Han Meng

IASDR Conference Series

In recent years, urban-rural interaction and rural revitalization have received increasing attention, particularly in the context of Innovative Agricultural Design (IAD).However, existing IAD cases differ significantly in scale, concept, and development models, making it difficult to formulate design strategies that are adaptive and targeted to different types of practices. To address this issue, this study systematically classifies 83 domestic and international IAD cases and establishes a typo logical framework to reveal their distinct characteristics. Based on a comprehensive indicator system encompassing technological, social, and business innovation dimensions, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and hierarchical clustering are applied to identify four IAD …

The Effect Of Generative Ai On Design Students' Critical Thinking And Creative Achievement, Younjung Hwang, Jindo Hwang

IASDR Conference Series

This study investigated generative AI's impact on design students' critical thinking and creative achievement through a counterbalanced within-subjects experiment with 61 university students in southern China. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A used traditional tools (Adobe software, handmade methods) followed by AI tools (Midjourney, DALL-E), while Group B used the reverse order. Students created graphic posters on different but comparable themes with a two- week interval between sessions. Data were collected through pre- and post-surveys using composite scores, blind expert evaluations of the design outputs, and focus group interviews. Results revealed a paradox: students reported significantly lower …

Breathing Beside The Leaf That Guides Us: An Experimental Study On A Plant-Human Symbiotic Meditation System Design, Yule Chen, Shengbo Sun, Yiwen Wang, Ying Hu, Wenyu Xu, Yuexin Zhu, Yiming Bai

IASDR Conference Series

Unlike interactions with electronic devices—which demandthe full focus ofhuman cognition through screen-based interfaces—our engagement with nature is subtle, embodied, and continuously perceived, even without conscious attention. In the context of a decent connection between human and nature life rhythms, this study introduces a novel plant- human symbiotic meditation system that transforms real-time photosynthetic signals into generative soundscapes, enablingaform ofcross-species interaction in which plant rhythms serve as perceptual cues in human meditative regulation. Distinct from prior human-plant interaction work that treats plants as passive background elements or aesthetic artifacts, this research emphasizes the expressive role of living plants in shaping human …

Co-Designing Tools For Dialogic Learning: Insights From The "Datafy" Project, Yu-Yu Liu, Maja Dybboe, Johanne Birkkjær Bjerrum, Johannes Ellemose, Christian Dindler

IASDR Conference Series

This study presents a co-design process for developing tools that foster critical data literacy in K–12 education through dialogic learning opportunities. Adopting a research-through-design approach, we explore how teachers and interdisciplinary researchers can co-create con textually grounded, pedagogy- informed learning artefacts. In this paper, we document the co-design process, describe the resulting artefacts, and report classroom observations involving 40 students and two teachers using these tools in a primary school. Our findings highlight: (i) how artefact-enabled dialogic learning opportunities shaped children’s learning experiences and (ii) the process and outcomes of interdisciplinary co-design with teachers. Our results underscore the value of …

Sustainable Design Through Tradition: Insights From The Cuia Craft Of Amazonian Women, Andrea Bandoni, Nacional De Belas-Artes

IASDR Conference Series

This article examines the work of Amazonian women artisans who, in collaboration with the cuieira tree (Crescentia cujete), create the traditional cuias of Santarém. These vessels are distinguished by their black organic lacquer and intricate carved motifs, which give cultural value to objects primarily used as containers. The study seeks to inform design methodologies that foreground environmental responsibility while demonstrating how ancestral knowledge can inspire sustainable practices. It also underscores the central role of women in preserving and transmitting this heritage. To address these aims, the research employed a mixed-method approach: a literature review on sustainable design; a historical analysis …

Integrating Adaptive Approaches For Color Vision Deficiency With Activity Theory: A Holistic Framework For Inclusive Public Design, Xin Yi Wang, Yu Hin Brian Lee, Yi Lin Wong, Kin Wai Michael Siu

IASDR Conference Series

This study aims to address the challenges of adaptive public design for individuals with Color Vision Deficiency (CVD), a prevalent yet often overlooked invisible disability. By integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Activity Theory, the research seeks to bridge technical optimization with socio-cultural inclusivity, providing a comprehensive framework for inclusive design. AHP was employed to quantitatively evaluate adaptive design solutions for CVD based on effectiveness, usability, scalability, cost, efficiency, and adoption potential. Concurrently, Activity Theory was applied to analyze systemic gaps in public design, emphasizing the interplay between tools, societal goals, and environmental contexts. The study introduces a Multi-Perspective …

Hidden Craft: Exploring Material Possibilities Of Traditional Bamboo Weaving Waste, Li-Wei Yeh

IASDR Conference Series

As bamboo gains recognition for its ecological and material versatility, through participation in bamboo weaving, the researcher discovers large volume of waste generated during material preparation. This study investigates the material and experiential potential of bamboo craft waste through a practice-led research approach. By combining sodium alginate (SA), the researcher experimented with diverse material compositions and forming methods, including sheet casting, pattern generation and 3D shaping. These processes reveal how material behaviours such as fluidity and shrinkage become central to design negotiation, prompting the maker to oscillate between control and responsiveness. The study adopts reflective writing and qualitative coding to …

Reimagining Death And Rituals Through Design: Memorial Diamond Jewellery As A Speculative Probe, Yiwen Cheng, Jie Sun

IASDR Conference Series

Death remains one of the most enduring cultural taboos, often met with silence and avoidance across both Western and Eastern societies. Although design research has increasingly engaged with death through the lens of thanatosensitive design, it has largely focused on supporting the bereaved, leaving the perspectives and agency of the dying themselves under explored. This study explores the memorial diamond as a speculative medium for reimagining death rituals and the relationships between the deceased and the bereaved. Using a research through design approach, we engaged speculative design as both a future-oriented lens and a creative method to examine these phenomena. …